8 Times Celebrities Broke Royal Protocol

Meeting royalty isn't easy—even if you're already pretty famous yourself. Royal protocol is a complicated set of unsaid rules, which seem to be ever-changing as the royal family evolve and become more modernized. Traditional royal etiquette has previously suggested that non-royals must not touch a royal unless initiated by another royal, prolonged eye contact is no no (when is it not?), and there really is such a thing as curtseying too low. But in the heat of the moment and in all that regal-induced excitement, anything can happen. Here's a look at eight times celebrities broke royal protocol.

No doubt giddy upon winning her well-deserved Best Supporting Actress BAFTA, Allison admitted to James Corden that she had no shoes on while speaking to Kate and Wills, before calling Kate "honey."

"I just told her that I was in bare feet and I felt - I told her she should take her shoes off 'cause she's pregnant," the actress told James on his Late Show. "It was an awkward moment. As I did, I called her 'honey' and that might not have been royal etiquette."

We're sure all is forgiven, especially as Allison jumped straight to Kate's defense when she wore green on a BAFTA red carpet of black outfits.

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Ed Sheeran

Ed realized the error of his non-etiquette ways after he gently touched Prince Charles' arm while being awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace last year.

"Apparently, I did a big faux pas, though,” he told NBC afterwards. "I shook his hand and then grabbed it and you’re not meant to do that."

Charles looks like a pretty reasonable royal to us, and he doesn't look too plussed..

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Brendan Cole

The Duchess of Cornwall looks like she's having the time of her life while quickstepping with former Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole.

The photos - taken at a royal event to highlight the benefits for older people of staying active - later caused controversy, with some publications speculating that Brendan's apparent breach of protocol by inviting Camilla to a waltz was the reason behind his Strictly sacking.

However, shortly after the images broke the internet, an etiquette expert said Anna broke royal protocol by keeping her trademark sunglasses on while speaking with the monarch.

"Ms Wintour should know that to wear sunglasses when talking to another person, with no medical reason, is unacceptable," Grant Harrold told the Press Association. "She should have removed them before being in the presence of the Queen, let alone in discussion."

Also, she was indoors. But we don't think the Queen look to perturbed by protocol faux-pas.

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Michelle Obama

Just moments after this photo was taken, Michelle Obama put her arms around the Queen, which goes against royal protocol. But the faux-pas was okay: the Queen definitely reciprocated.

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LeBron James

Those big old sweat-patches cause slight concern, but who can blame LeBron for reaching in to give the Duchess of Cambridge a happy, friendly squeeze.

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Mickey Rooney

The late legendary Hollywood actor went there... he gave the Queen a tender kiss on the hand upon their meeting

We don't think Her Majesty really minded. Besides, she was wearing gloves.

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The Spice Girls - in particular, Geri Halliwell

Nope, there's no blurred lines here. Patting a senior royal member's bottom is most definitely breaking royal protocol.

But it certainly wasn't a cheeky pinch, as Geri cleared up to The Times recently: "I didn't pinch Prince Charles’s bum, as was reported. I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we’re all human. It was the premiere of our film, Spice World, in the late Nineties. There was a lot of nervous energy - young women, happy antics."

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